Today's Climate

February 24, 2021

Top Executives of Texas Power Grid Resign in Aftermath of Deadly Winter Storms

Five board members of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas—the entity that manages and operates the electricity grid that covers much of Texas—will resign on Wednesday, with a sixth pending member withdrawing his application to join the council, the Texas Tribune reports. The board has been criticized for last week’s mass power outage during a winter storm that has claimed the lives of dozens of Texans.

Texas Tribune

As Haaland Faces Second Confirmation Hearing, Indian Country Gripped by Historic Nomination

For many Native Americans, Deb Haaland is a reflection of themselves, someone who will elevate their voices and protect the environment and tribal rights. As Haaland faces her second confirmation hearing in front of the Senate on Wednesday, tribal communities are watching closely, the Associated Press reports, with some virtual watch parties having already drawn hundreds of people.

Associated Press

In Attacks on Environmental Advocates in Canada, a Disturbing Echo of Extremist Politics in the US

The government of Alberta, home to Canada’s oil industry, is in the final stages of a public inquiry targeting environmental advocates. But critics of the inquiry say it has devolved into incompetence and relies on reports published by the government that are laced with conspiracy theories and climate denial. “This has been a witch hunt from the very beginning,” one activist said.

Inside Climate News

‘Climate Change’ Is Back, ‘Illegal Alien’ Is Out. New Administration Changes the Language of Government.

The phrase “illegal alien” was replaced with “noncitizen.” The words “climate change” reappeared on government websites and documents. Since the first days President Biden took office, his administration has moved quickly to replace the language and imagery used under Trump, signaling the new president’s more inclusive and science-driven approach to policy, The New York Times reports.

The New York Times

Biden Says United States and Canada Will Work Toward Achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2050

President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that he and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to “align our policies and our goals” to work toward achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The partnership comes after Biden revoked a key permit for the Keystone XL pipeline that would have carried oil from Canada into the U.S. Many believed that move would aggravate tensions between the countries.

Reuters

Maryland’s Capital City Joins a Long Line of Litigants Seeking Climate-Related Damages from the Fossil Fuel Industry

George Washington once stood in the 242-year-old Maryland State House in Annapolis. But that building, along with many other landmarks along the state’s historic waterfront, face increased threat of tidal flooding, natural disasters and sea level rise as a result of climate change, the city argues in a new lawsuit against the fossil fuel industry.

Inside Climate News

February 23, 2021

U.S. Energy Regulator to Examine Climate Change’s Threat to Power Reliability

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will look at how extreme weather and climate change threaten the nation’s energy reliability after last week’s blackout in Texas following a winter storm, Reuters reports. The storm caused days-long power outages for millions of people and led to at least two dozen deaths.

Reuters

As Deaths Surge, Scientists Study the Link Between Climate Change and Avalanches

This winter, 31 people have been killed in avalanches in the United States—already exceeding the annual average of 27 deaths—with warnings of more to come in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Some social psychologists have begun asking whether it’s possible that global warming plus a global pandemic equals a recipe for deadly avalanche accidents.

Inside Climate News

Interior Nominee Haaland Vows ‘Balance’ on Energy, Climate

President Biden’s nominee for Secretary of Interior, Deb Haaland said she is committed to “strike the right balance” in managing U.S. energy development and federal lands. Haaland, who would be the first Native American to serve as a cabinet leader, begins confirmation hearings on Tuesday.

Associated Press

Annapolis Sues 26 Oil and Gas Companies for Their Role in Contributing to Climate Change

On Monday Maryland’s capital city joined 24 other jurisdictions in suing fossil fuel companies, claiming ExxonMobil, Chevron and others knew how their industry contributed to climate change and did not take action. The lawsuit said Annapolis faces destruction of property, lost tax revenue and costs to prepare for climate change, the Capital Gazette reports.

The Capital Gazette

The Battle Over Climate Change is Boiling Over on the Home Front

Several cities and towns are mandating that new buildings run on electric power, but a natural gas trade group is resisting the regulations in statehouses around the country. Burning natural gas to heat water and food releases carbon dioxide, though not as much as oil and coal.

The Washington Post

Seismic Survey of Alaskan Arctic Refuge Won’t Move Forward

An Alaska Native group did not conduct a seismic survey of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge before a deadline last week, killing the group’s proposal to survey the region. The survey would have used reconnaissance flights to detect polar bear dens in the refuge as a step toward accessing its oil reserves. 

The New York Times

February 22, 2021

Texas Freeze Led to Release of Tons of Air Pollutants as Refineries Shut Production

The nation’s largest oil refiners released tons of air pollutants into the skies over Texas this past week, as refineries and petrochemical plants in the region scrambled to shut down production during frigid weather, Reuters reports. As the industry responded to the deadly winter storms, shutdowns led to increased flaring, or burning and releasing of gases, to prevent damage to their processing units.

Reuters

Climate Threats Could Mean Big Jumps in Insurance Costs This Year

The cost of federal flood insurance will need to increase significantly in much of the country to meet the growing risks of climate change, new data suggests, creating a political headache for the Biden administration. The data shows premiums on high-risk homes would need to quadruple under the National Flood Insurance Program to reflect the risks the homes already face.

The New York Times

What’s On Interior’s To-Do List? A Full Plate of Public Lands Issues—and Trump Rollbacks—for Deb Haaland

Public lands, which are responsible for about a quarter of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, are set  to play a pivotal role in the Biden administration’s ambitious climate change agenda. We look at what could be the Interior Department’s priority list, starting this week with the confirmation of Deb Haaland, who could become the first Native American to lead the agency.

Inside Climate News

First Arctic Navigation in February Sends a Worrying Climate Signal

Melting ice in the Arctic allowed a gas tanker to sail through the Northern Sea Route in the middle of winter for the first time, showcasing just how quickly climate change is accelerating in the region, Bloomberg reports. The ship, accompanied by a nuclear-powered icebreaker, sailed back to Russia this month after carrying liquified natural gas to China.

Bloomberg

Warmer Temperatures May Offer California Farmers a Rare Silver Lining: Fewer Frosts

Few things affect where fruit and nut trees can thrive more than temperature. Nuts and many fruit trees need enough cold hours to produce quality yields but not too much cold to kill crops—especially at the wrong time. Now, in a rare bit of good climate news for California farmers, a recent study suggests that orchards may see fewer crop-destroying frosts by midcentury.

Inside Climate News

Warming Trends: A Facebook Plan to Debunk Climate Myths, ‘Meltdown’ and a Sad Yeti

Facebook says it will now label posts that are about climate change as part of the platform’s efforts to combat misinformation. Scientists are criticizing countries for including burning biomass as part of their net-zero strategies. And ice cover on the Great Lakes in January was the second-lowest on record this year. That and more in the latest Warming Trends.

Inside Climate News